Barcelona meets Shakhtar at home, on Wednesday.
After eliminating one team from Group H, Arsenal, Barcelona will face another team from the same group, the leader Shaktar Donetsk.
Following Real Madrid’s loss on Saturday and Barcelona’s victory against Villarreal the difference between both teams became 8 points, and now the team can solely focus on Champions League. Barcelona has allowed the fewest shots on their target than any other team in the Champions League. Barcelona comes in this game as a total favorite, having won 10 of the last 12 European Cup quarter-finals. Against Shakhtar, Barcelona has recorded 4 victories a draw and 2 losses. In the Champions League groups in the recent years, on Camp Nou Barcelona has recorded 1 victory back in 2004 in Group F with 3:0 and a loss in 2008 in Group C 2:3.
Captain Carles Puyol is still doubtful for this game, and at this moment, but it has been said that he might be ready for the game in Ukraine.
Shakhtar Donetsk are coming out in this game optimistic, their manager said. The team believes they have a real shot to advance, and that this game can be won, having won the most recent game on Camp Nou with 2:3 Another interesting fact is that the team that has eliminated Arsenal in the past seven seasons has lost their next knockout match. This might give Shakhtar even greater hopes for something more in Spain.
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On top of that Shakhtar has the best shooting accuracy out of the eight teams left in Champions League, fifty seven percent.
Both teams met in 2009′s Uefa Super Cup, where the game ended 0:0 in regular time, and Barcelona won in extra time with 1:0.
From a punter’s point of view this game seems hardly profitable, unless you believe that Barcelona is capable of making a mistake here and either lose or draw the game. The odds for a home victory are at 1.20 and going down.
I personally would stay away from backing Barcelona with a handicap as this is the first game still and Shakhtar has proved to be a worthy opponent this season. However I do believe that both teams will be looking for that goal from the very first minute, especially Barcelona. My prediction would be Over 3.5 points giving you good odds, for moderate amount of risk. Good luck betting.
Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.25 
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